Float controlled magnetically operated switch with a rod for rotating a magnet including a pair of opposed connected helices



Nov. 1, 1966 F. M. IANNELLI 3,

FLOAT CONTROLLED MAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH WITH A ROD FOR ROTATING A MAGNET INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CONNECTED HELICES Filed Sept. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Fra /1 N-[au neZ/z;

ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z ZZ WZK YJkWW Z Z ATTORNEY F. M. IANNELLI ROTATING A MAGNET INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CONNECTED HELICES FLOAT CONTROLLED MAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH WITH A ROD FOR Nov. 1, 1966 Flled Sept 18, 1964 25 I "H l United States Patent 3,283,095 FLOAT CONTROLLE MAGNETICALLY OPER- ATED SWITCH WITH A RUB FOR RUTATING A MAGNET INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CONNECTED HELICES Frank M. Iannelli, Penwood Road, Livingston, NJ. Filed Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 397,450 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-84) This invention relates to electrical switches and, more particularly, to one operable 'by a float in a liquid-holding tank.

The switch of the present application is particularly useful in pressure-containing vessels where a float is positioned in such a vessel and the switch is disposed on the outside thereof. A particular application of the in vention is contemplated in connection with carbonating apparatus, such as described and claimed in Patent No. 2,782,061, issued to the present applicant under date of February 19, 1957.

An object of my invention is to produce a float-operable switch adapted for use in connection with a liquid-holding tank with a cover, wherein said switch preferably comprises a plastic tube into the opposite ends of which are sealed normally open leaf switch contacts, formed of iron or other magnetizable material, connected to a circuit to 'be controlled and supportable on the top of said tank cover, with means for operating said switch as the level of the liquid in the tank changes.

Another object of my invention is to produce a switch as above described, wherein the operating means comprises a permanent bar magnet disposed closely beneath said switch and turnable to open or closed position by a float in said tank, said float operating a steeply-pitched, helical rod turnable as the level of the liquid in the tank changes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a floatoperable switch, as above generally described, wherein the switch-operating bar magnet has its axis horizontal and operable by said helical rod, non-circular but preferably squ-are in section, said float carrying a plate which meshes with said helical rod so that, upon vertical movement of the float, the bar magnet non-rotatably connected to the top portion of said rod, is turned as the float moves up or down.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and do not define the scope or limits of the invention, reference being bad for the latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional View, with parts in elevation, of a liquid-holding tank, on the cover of which is mounted a leaf switch operable by mechanism embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the tank, with parts of the switch broken away to show more clearly the interior construction, the view being in the direction of the arrows on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is .an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of FIGURE 1, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the helical switchoperating rod, but showing a modification.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the permanent bar magnet, showing alternate positions in dotted lines and how it is related to the leaf contacts of the switch.

3283,6435 Patented Nov. 1, 1956 :Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3 and 5, there is shown a tank 11 containing a liquid 12, customarily water. The liquid 12 supplied to the tank may be fed thereto and removed therefrom by means not here shown, so that its depth in the tank changes. The tank has a bottom member 13 forming a closure, in this case fitting about the bottom part of a cylindrical wall 14. The top closure or cover member 15 of the tank has a depending flange 16 overlying the top of the cylindrical portion 14.

The cover 15 supports an open-ended pipe 17, the lower end of which extends into the liquid 12 for a desired purpose, which may be for introducing or withdrawing liquid, or for introducing carbon dioxide thereinto for carbonating it, either when in a relatively pure condition or precarbonated and/or flavored. Flow of carbon dioxide, and/or other matter, into the liquid 12 or tank 11, is here shown controlled by a valve 18, which is merely representative or as an example of what may be done by my switch. Wires 19 and 21 from said valve 18 extend to the respective external ends of magne-tizable leaf switch contacts 22 and 23. A suitable source of electrical energy, not shown, is included in such a circuit, so that the vlave 18 is alternately opened and closed to let gas, or other material, pass to the liquid 12 upon closing and opening the electrical switch 24, which includes the leaf contacts 22 and 23 each fixedly mounted at one end with its other end free and resiliently flexible toward and from the free end of the other contact.

The free ends of said leaf contacts 22 and 23 are normally separated, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 5, but may be magnetically brought together or closed, or allowed to separate or reopen upon turning of a permanent bar magnet 25 about an axis that is parallel to the planes of said free ends of the leaf contacts. Said magnet is disposed closely beneath said leaf cont-acts but separated therefrom by the switch cover and the top wall 26 of the cover member 15. The switch 24 desirably comprises a plastic, general hollow tube or cylindrical cover or housing 27 in the opposite ends of which are sealed the leaf contacts 22 and 23, as most clearly shown in FIGURE 2. This tube 27 is shown held in place on top of the cover 15, in the present embodiment, by a pair of clamps 28 and 29, held in place on said cover 15 by means of screws 31 and 32, or the like. The cover 15 is desirably provided with upstanding flanges 33 and 34 forming a socket in which fits the plastic tube 27.

The cover 15 has a downwardly-opening pocket 35, the lower interior portion of which is threaded as indicated at 36 and adjustably receives an upper rod mounting fitting 37. Depending from. this fitting are float-guiding means, here shown as a pair of rods 38 and 39 with their upper ends fixed thereto. In the present embodiment, the lower ends of said rods are also fixed, as by being fastened into a lower plate 41, but as an alternative, said rods could be the upstanding arms of a U-shaped member. Both the cover 15 and the fitting 37, like the tube 27, are formed of nonmagnetic material.

These rods 38 and 39 have slidaby mounted thereon a float 40. In the present embodiment, said float 40 is shown with an outer generally hollow cylindrical portion 42 and has a central opening 43 defined by an inner hollow cylindrical portion 44. The cylindrical portions 42 and 44 are closed at their tops and bottoms by annular portions 45 and 46. The opening 43 is bridged, but not entirely closed, at its top by a plate 47, and at its bottom by a plate 48, said plates being apertured to receive and be non-rotatably guided on the rods 38 and 39, so that the float 40 is adapted to ride up and down on said rods without turning.

In order to control the bar magnet 25, there is an actuating rod 49 non-circular, or desirably square or rectangular in section as illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 3. Said section, however, is distorted as by twisting so that the rod 49 is shaped as a helix of a very high pitch. This helical rod 49 serves to turn the magnet 25 by having its upper end non-rotatably fitting a corresponding downwardly-opening socket 50 in said magnet, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 1. Its lower end is turnably carried on the plate 41 or other portion connecting the lower ends of the rods 38 and 39, desirably received in an upwardly-opening socket in said portion, as shown in FIGURE 1. Its intermediate portion meshingly passes through a slot 51, that is, with a turning action therebetween, as between toothed gears when engaged. The plate thus fits the rod 49 in such a way that, as the float 40 moves up and down, the rod 4 is turned because of its meshing helical form and effects a corresponding turn ing of the bar magnet 25 about a vertical axis.

In the embodiment just described, the non-circular actuating rod 49 may be uniformly helical from one end to the other so that as the float 40 rises the bar magnet 25 is turned from the dotted line position 25' with its longitudinal axis at angles to the contacts shown in FIGURES 2 and 5 where contacts 22 and 23 have these ends touching for closing an electric circuit, to lie as shown in the full line position designated 25 (FIGURE 5) with its longitudinal axis parallel to the contacts where the lines of force from said magnet are removed from 22 and 23 so that they will be free and open effecting the opening of an energized circuit controlled thereby and a desired operation, such as the operation of the valve 18.

In the embodiment in FIGURE 4, however, the rod, here designated 49a may have its central portion formed and positioned as viewed in FIGURE 3 and its end portions 52 and 53 helically formed or twisted therefrom in opposite directions. float 40 from top of 52 to bottom of 52 will effect an engagement of the leaf contacts 22 and 23 and closing of said switch. A further movement of float 40 traveling length of 53 toward bottom will reversely rotate the magnet to effect separation of leaf contacts 22 and 23 and opening of the switch. This contrasts with the first embodiment in which the leaf contacts 22 and 23 may be engaged to close the switch when the float 40 is at the bottom of the tank, while not separated to open the switch until the float reaches a position at or near the top of said tank. By making the twisted portions at selected distances apart or at selected locations, my switch may effect a control of the liquid so as to hold it at a desired level, or effect a desired operation at such a liquid level.

The permanent magnet 25 may be adjusted toward and from the switch contacts 22 and 23, when desired, by simply rotating the mounted fitting 37 and locking it in adjusted position by a thumb screw 54 threaded in the fitting and abutting the cover 15. i

I claim:

1. A float-controlled magnetically operated switch for use in a liquid holding tank that has a non-magnetic top closure, a pair of contacts at least one of which is a leaf contact and magnetic with one end fixedly mounted and with its other end free and resiliently flexible toward and from the other contact, means mounting said contacts on the upper side of said top closure, a permanent bar magnet mounted at the opposite side of said top closure to rotate about an axis, the free end of said magnetic contact being responsive to the magnetic field of the magnet, providing for movement of said magnetic contact into and out of engagement with the other contact upon turning When so formed a movement of.

of the bar magnet in opposite directions respectively, and means for rotating said magnet about said axis including an helical rod rotatable on the second-mentioned side of top closure about said vertical axis and connected to said bar magnet to turn it about said axis upon rotation of the rod, and a float adapted to be mounted in said tank for movement in accordance with the changes in the liquid level in the tank and meshing with said helical rod to rotate the rod upon vertical movement of the float, said rod having portions helically twisted in opposite directions from an intermediate point in the length thereof whereby when the float is moved along said rod the magnetic contact will be successively moved into and out of engagement with the other contact.

2. A float-controlled magnetically operated switch for use in a liquid holding tank that has a non-magnetic top closure, a pair of contacts at least one of which is a leaf contact and magnetic with one end fixedly mounted and with its other end free and resiliently flexible toward and from the other contact, means mounting said contacts on the upper side of said top closure, a permanent bar magnet mounted at the opposite side of said top closure to rotate about an axis, the free end of said magnetic contact being responsive to themagnetic field of the magnet, providing for movement of said magnetic contact into and out of engagement with the other contact upon turning of the bar magnet in opposite directions respectively, and means for rotating said magnet about said axis including an helical rod rotatable on the second-mentioned side of top closure about said vertical axis and connected to said bar magnet to turn it about said axis upon rotation of the rod, and a float adapted to be mounted in said tank for movement in accordance with the changes in the liquid level in the tank and meshing with said helical rod to rotate the rod upon vertical movement of the float and wherein there is a mounting fitting adjustably mounted on the second-mentioned side of said top closure for movement toward and from said contacts, and said bar magnet and said means for rotating the bar magnet are mountedon said mounting fitting, providing for adjustment of the bar magnet toward and from said contacts.

3. A magnetically operated switch as define-d in claim 1 wherein both of said contacts are leaf contacts each fixedly mounted at one end with its other end free and resiliently flexible toward and from the free end of the other contact, said rod is connected to the bar magnet intermediate the ends of the magnet and is rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the planes of said free ends of the 7 leaf contacts, the magnet being normally parallel to said contacts and the free ends of the contacts being normally in spaced relation to each other whereby upon rotation of the magnet from its normal position, the contacts are moved into engagement with each other.

References Cited by the Examiner 2,620,412 12/1952 Ford. BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. A. LEWITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLOAT-CONTROLLED MAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH FOR USE IN A LIQUID HOLDING TANK THAT HAS A NON-MAGNETIC TOP CLOSURE, A PAIR OF CONTACTS AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH IS A LEAF CONTACT AND MAGNETIC WITH ONE END FIXEDLY MOUNTED AND WITH ITS OTHER END FREE AND RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE TOWARD AND FROM THE OTHER CONTACT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CONTACTS ON THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID TOP CLOSURE, A PERMANENT BAR MAGNET MOUNTED AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID TOP CLOSURE TO ROTATE ABOUT AN AXIS, THE FREE END OF SAID MAGNETIC CONTACT BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE MAGNET, PROVIDING FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID MAGNETIC CONTACT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER CONTACT UPON TURNING OF THE BAR MAGNET IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID MAGNET ABOUT SAID AXIS INCLUDING AN HELICAL ROD ROTATABLE ON THE SECOND-MENTIONED SIDE OF TOP CLOSURE ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS AND CONNECTED TO SAID BAR MAGNET TO TURN IT ABOUT SAID AXIS UPON ROTATION OF THE ROD, AND A FLOAT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN SAID TANK FOR MOVEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHANGES IN THE LIQUID LEVEL IN THE TANK AND MESHING WITH SAID HELICAL ROD TO ROTATE THE ROD UPON VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE FLOAT, SAID ROD HAVING PORTIONS HELICALLY TWISTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS FROM AN INTERMEDIATE POINT IN THE LENGTH THEREOF WHEREBY WHEN THE FLOAT IS MOVED ALONG SAID ROD THE MAGNETIC CONTACT WILL BE SUCCESSIVELY MOVED INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER CONTACT. 